The Authority of Jesus

And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. ²² And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. ²³ And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ²⁴ “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” ²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷ And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” ²⁸ And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee (Mark 1:21-28).

It is authority that Mark is bringing to our attention.  Consider then what we are to understand about it.  It is significant that the hearers of Jesus’ teaching and observers of his exorcism do not use the term “power.”  “This guy sure is a powerful preacher!”  “What power he must have to cast out a demon!”  Jesus, to be sure, is powerful, and elsewhere that term will be used to describe his miracle work, but the point being made here is the authority he possesses.  Jesus is able to teach what he teaches because of the unique authority he has.  He is able to cast out demons by a mere command because of his authority over them.  It is his authority that compels obedience by even the forces that opposed him.  Jesus came not just as a powerful warrior but as the supreme authority over his dominion.

There is a saying, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”  Similarly, we might say fools rush in where demons fear to tread.  Of course, demons still do not live in obedience to Jesus.  If they did, they would quit working for Satan.  But they understand with whom they have irretrievably cast their lots and the destiny that awaits them.  They know also the Holy One they work against and yet must still obey whenever he commands.  The demons know what so many do not – the Holy One of God.  They know the destiny of those who refuse to bow before him.  And they know the protection he gives to his people who do call on him.

Many today do not obey, not because they’ve consciously cast their lots with Satan, but because they act without true consciousness.  They act according to how far their reason carries them, which in truth is not very far.  There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophies, and we would do well to humbly receive what is revealed to us.

The same applies to us Christians.  We would do well to meditate upon what we confess easily with our lips.  Surely we would act differently if we did.  How would we truly regard our sin, if we fully understood Jesus as the Holy One as do the demons?  How much better would we obey our Lord, understanding his authority as the demons understand it?  Even we can learn from what the demons know.